A memorable alternative to a dinner party or group celebration

Food at 52 is the perfect choice for hosting a private group cookery class followed by a fabulous feast of all the food you have created.

Our private cooking classes are a great alternative way to celebrate any special event, whether it’s a birthday party, hen do, stag party, anniversary or simply a long overdue catch up between friends.

When you book a private cookery class our lounge and kitchen are exclusively yours to use.

Have a virtual look around the venue

Head over to our Venue Hire page to see a Google internal street view of our lovely kitchen, the space you'll cook and dine in when you book for a private or group cooking class.

Why people love our private cooking parties

A brid-to-be wearing a veil at a hen cooking party hosted at Food at 52.
  • You choose from any of our global cuisines each with a minimum of 3 dishes.
  • Our menus can be adapted to most special dietary needs.
  • There will be free-flowing wine and refreshments throughout.
  • We’re centrally located, just a stone's throw from bustling Clerkenwell, Angel and Shoreditch.
  • Customise your party with a reception beforehand.
  • You can bring your own playlist or use our Spotify to create the perfect atmosphere.
  • Classes can be booked any day of the week, as a lunch or dinner.
  

What your private cooking party could look like

Start the party in style with an optional prosecco reception giving you the opportunity to catch up with all your guests before the class.

Then gather around our oak table where you’ll get stuck into the cooking, guided by friendly professional chefs who tailor their teaching to whatever your level. Everyone will leave having learned something and would have had a good time doing so.

After the cooking it’s time to pull up a chair and feast on the food you’ve prepared.

We keep the event flowing with unlimited wine served throughout and offer tea and coffee to finish.

And since there’s no washing up after, you’ll be free to carry on the party at the many nearby Central and East London clubs, bars and pubs. We're happy to recommend our favourite go-to spots for the after party!

 

Popular private cooking parties

Hen and stag parties

A cooking class is a great alternative to the traditional hen or stag do, combines a fun activity and a meal and drinks out in one!

Our shared cooking experience is perfect for bringing together a group of people across ranging ages and interests, giving everyone something other than the bride or groom to bond over: delicious food.

Of course there’s also room for the usual hen or stag do fun! Use the optional prosecco time for some games in our lounge if you like.


A brilliant †hen‡ party!

In September I organised my sister's hen party. I took 20 hens to a Vietnamese cooking course at Food @ 52 and it was great! We made a delicious and very healthy meal under the instruction of the team. It was really good for a hen party as you do an activity (preparing the meal), you can have a glass of wine and a chat, and then after you eat what you have prepared, so there is a meal too. It worked really well. Brilliant! I would definitely do it again.

Francesca P, London TripAdvisor

Birthday parties

Celebrating a big milestone? A cooking class is an excellent alternative to a meal out. Your guests won’t just be well-fed and plied with drink, they’ll leave with a new set of cooking skills.

Bring your own cake or let us know and we can decorate the dessert with candles.

Gathered around our oak dining table or cosied up in our lounge for pre-drinks, you’ll feel just like you’re hosting the party at home, only with much less hassle and no washing up afterwards.

If you’re cunning, you’ll choose your favourite cuisine for everyone to prepare so they’ll be able to recreate it for you the next time you’re invited for dinner!


Excellent

Booked Food at 52 for my husband's 60th birthday party. It was fabulous. We were a group of friends and family spanning 2 (and a half) generations (ages 20+). Emily and Natasha took a great deal of care in advance of the event to ensure that we chose a menu appropriate for the guests' dietary needs. On the day Emily and Rachel were friendly and welcoming, guiding us through the intricacies of South Indian cookery with skill and expertise. Andrea did a great job behind the scenes. All of our friends and family members had a great experience. I would highly recommend to others, and we'll be back!

Francesca P, London Ruth P, London TripAdvisor

Any other excuse for a private party too

Family reunion? Celebrating an anniversary or engagement? Or just in need of a quality catch up with old friends? A private cooking party could be just the thing! Catching up over a cooking course offers effortless mingling and bonding over shared experiences of food and travel.

There will be plenty of time to chat, celebrate and reminisce while you cook and sip wine.

You can even choose the menu to add to the nostalgia or festivity. Celebrate your engagement in Marrakesh by invoking the aromas of Morocco as you prepare authentic tagines. Or relive that family break in Sicily by recreating its vibrant flavours. Or hark back to that honeymoon, 20 years ago, in Kerala, Southern India with a fragrant curry.

For a bit of added merriment we can organise a fun food quiz with prizes to add to the party (if over 22 people).

Or choose from any of our other add-ons to customise and extend the experience.

Make the most of our private cooking courses with these add-ons:

  • Prosecco reception: Up to ½ hour to relax in our unique cosy lounge.
  • Meeting space to hire before the class with screen if needed.
  • If renting a meeting space, we can provide breakfast, refreshments or lunch as required (see our venue hire page for more details).
  • Food at 52 denim apron take-home gifts.
  • If there’s something else you’d like as an add-on that’s not listed here, just ask and we'll see what we can do.
  

Want to add your own style to the party?

For all events feel free to decorate the lounge in a theme before the event starts and bring your own music selection.

Dietary requirements

We're happy to advise on the best menu to suit your group including vegetarians and those with other dietary requirements.